Epidemiologic Analysis of the Surgical Specimens of Breast Carcinosarcomas Examined at a Reference Laboratory in a Nigerian Community

Abstract

The idea that carcinoma and sarcoma can exist together dated to as early as 1804. Pictorial illustrations of this phenomenon appeared by 1882. Nowadays, with regard to the breast, it is reportedly rare, there being but the documentation of one or two cases. Therefore, i.e. a series of 12 cases is presented from one ethnic group in Nigeria. The ages ranged from 22 to 52 years (average, 35 years). Two cases were diagnosed clinically as benign, 2 others as Cystosarcoma Phyllodes and the rest as carcinoma. A 2 cm wedge was submitted whereas the rest ranged up to 20 cm in size. The appearances were described often as huge, fleshy and fungating. The right: left ratio was 1.4:1. Most patients were attended to at the cosmopolitan Enugu Teaching Hospital, the rest being from the hinterland.